Episode 65

“Whew…”

A sunny spring day.

Her lovely face was full of concern.

Clara Edwell could only sigh deeply in the presence of her beloved husband.

“What’s wrong, Clara?”

“Do you think Sonnet is doing well?”

Sonnet.

The Count's face froze stiffly at the familiar name.

Even the maid standing some distance away could sense the chill, but the countess continued calmly.

“A new year has already started, so why isn't there a single letter…”

“She must be very busy.”

“Even so! Of course, there’s a lot to do, but still…”

As Clara’s complexion darkened, the new maid’s back became damp with sweat.

‘What’s so special about her that they’re searching for her like this…?’

She was an experienced but ordinary maid.

There were plenty of people in the mansion with her level of skill.

‘I didn’t think she was that impressive.’

The maid had also spent a brief time with Sonnet Posa during the handover.

A serious gaze, swift hands and feet, a faint presence.

There wasn’t a single thing that stood out.

'She is not a difficult person to serve. She is kind and gentle towards the servants.'

As Sonnet Posa had said, the countess was not a difficult person.

But if asked if this situation wasn’t troublesome…

“I worry that she might take on some unnecessary hard work. She has that tendency.”

“…Does she.”

“She always claims to not be having a hard time, even if she is. No, she doesn’t even realize it’s hard. So, someone needs to be there to guide her…”

Her round eyes fell pitifully.

The count’s gaze grew colder.

The maid wanted to go home.

‘I wish she’d just come back…’

The countess’s attachment to the former maid made things quite uncomfortable for the current one.

“Carlyle, do you know anything?”

“I'm not sure.”

A lie.

The count wasn’t struggling financially, so there was no way someone of his stature could not track down a commoner.

‘He just doesn’t want to find her.’

The countess had no idea about her husband’s jealousy.

“That maid is quite grown. Stop worrying.”

“Still… Should I go look for her?”

“Clara.”

“…Alright. Yes, she wouldn’t like it if I found her that way.”

This was the limit of the countess’s power.

Although she possessed wide-ranging influence in society, tracking the whereabouts of a commoner was a different matter.

Her slender shoulders drooped. A large hand gently stroked her arm as if waiting for this moment.

“That maid will be fine wherever she is, so don’t worry.”

---

“Ah, my head…”

Whether it was for physical or mental reasons, I didn’t know.

Fortunately, the bleeding from my head stopped quickly once I pressed a handkerchief against it.

“When will I clean all this up?”

Blood stains on the carpet.

A broken glass bottle.

Scattered flowers and other items…

Even while drunk, Ruby Zephyrite had thoroughly trashed the bedroom.

She should be sent to a battlefield, not social events.

It’s a pity her talents couldn’t shine in this peaceful era.

“Let’s approach this, one step at a time…”

Even the most daunting task can be tackled if you break it apart step by step.

I climbed onto the bed to take care of the lady first.

‘How much jewelry is she wearing?’

She was like a walking merchant.

Emeralds, sapphires, pearls, amber, diamonds…

After removing the mismatched necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings, the back of her neck felt damp.

The work didn’t end there.

I wiped off the powder from her collarbone, combed her hair to prevent it from tangling, and changed her clothes…

‘The laundry room is going to hate this.’

I picked up the rolled-up carpet and looked down at her scattered blonde hair.

‘I have at least twelve hours of freedom now.’

Her only good trait was that she slept deeply without any issues once the night hit.

As I trotted away after leaving the carpet in the laundry room, my vision flickered briefly.

“Ah…”

I hadn’t eaten or slept well today.

I couldn't help it, since the lady did not return on time.

As I debated whether to go to the dining room or catch up on sleep, a bright voice called out from behind.

“Sonnet!”

A light weight wrapped around my shoulders.

“How have you been? Did my sister behave? I should have been at the mansion, but there was a graduation gathering…”

“Everything is fine. There is nothing to worry about, young master.”

Lapis’s lips twitched as he lowered his head to match my gaze.

His thick eyelashes fluttered quickly.

“Why, why are you speaking formally to me?”

“Well, you are my young master now.”

“We agreed not to let such formalities come between us.”

His sharp eyes drooped as he clung to me like a little sparrow.

“Alright, then.”

“Keep treating me casually. Got it?"

“Okay.”

“This is a good opportunity. How about a walk?”

He smiled gently.

It was a suggestion, but his eyes left no room for refusal.

As I nodded, Lapis grinned and quickened his pace.

“As you probably know, Sonnet can roam around the garden as you please. We don’t mind.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Just avoid my sister. Do you like flowers?”

Lapis’s mouth never stopped moving.

‘He must have been with people at the gathering as well.’

He had such overflowing energy.

After chatting away for quite a while, Lapis suddenly stopped.

His long fingers gently grasped the ends of my hair.

“What is it?”

“I just thought your hair looked fine.”

“Why?”

“Sometimes, there are cases where hair gets pulled out or cut with scissors…”

Even without a subject, the target was clear.

His neat eyebrows tilted downward.

“I would be very sad to see even a little of your beautiful hair lost.”

“If it gets bad, I can just cut it.”

“Don’t say such sad things. Sonnet, if anything happens, you must tell me, alright?”

“Got it.”

“Really, nothing happened, right?”

“That's what I said.”

Even after hearing my answer several times, Lapis seemed dissatisfied.

Then, the topic changed to something unexpected.

“I fell in love at first sight!”

A voice echoed loudly from close by.

I instinctively pulled Lapis’s wrist and hid us behind a tree.

His golden eyes narrowed.

“Who’s that…”

“Do you know him?”

“No. I’m not interested in men. But he must be someone who works here, right?”

Two men occupied the middle of the path.

I didn’t recognize one, but the other was a very familiar figure.

“I'm sorry. I cannot accept your confession.”

“Why…? What am I lacking?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t have the heart for a relationship right now. With anyone.”

The formal smile appeared weary.

Ute added dryly as if reading from a script.

“I’m sorry I can’t return your feelings.”

He had only been working here for a week, and this was already the fifth time.

Lapis, hidden next to me, grumbled in a bored tone.

“Ugh, I’m not interested in men’s love confessions.”

“You'll see it often in the future.”

“Then why—”

Plop.

As we were about to head back inside, something wet trickled down my cheek.

‘Is it raining?’

But the sky was clear without a single cloud. The sunlight had fully risen, softly piercing through the leaves.

Several more drops fell on my hand as I wiped my cheek.

Plop, plop.

‘Red…’

There was no need to think long.

It wasn’t falling from the sky but from my head.

“Sonnet? What, why is there blood…”

“There’s no need to be so surprised—”

“Doctor! Doctor! Doctor!”

The lips that had been chattering cheerfully were now pale.

His long fingers flailed in the air. The doctor nearby came running immediately.

“What’s going on… Sonnet!”

“Ute! Ute! What do we do?”

“Why is there so much blood… Did a rock fall or anything?”

“I don’t know. Suddenly, out of nowhere…”

“Doctor! Right, I’m the doctor!”

The eyes that had been used to the routine now examined me with utmost seriousness.

Ah, this…

I kind of liked this feeling.

‘Is it okay to like this?’

My reddened vision was filled with Ute Velvet.

I spoke reflexively before he could ask.

“I am fine.”

“How can you be fine—”

“It’s just a torn wound opening up again. This area usually bleeds a lot even with a small tear.”

“Sonnet.”

“There’s no need to make such a fuss.”

“Sonnet!”

Had this guy ever spoken so loudly before?

I wasn’t sure.

What I knew for sure were the warm, soft hands grasping my cold palms.

“How can you say you’re fine with hands this cold?”

“…Huh?”

“Sonnet. Please, just…”

His pale lips were moving, but I couldn’t quite make them out.

I stared quietly at Ute's green eyes, his red neck, his white buttons…

“Sonnet! Stay with me, Sonnet!”

---

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